Sulfur-based solutions towards more sustainability
In line with Arkema's Social Commitment Charter, the Thiochemicals’ offer contributes to 9 of the 17 sustainable development goals of the United Nations Global Compact, mainly related to Industry, Innovation & Infrastructure (9), Responsible consumption and production (12), Climate action (13) and Good Health & Well-being (3)
We put our expertise at the service of some of the major issues of our planet, focusing on three main areas:
- Innovating to respond to social challenges by offering an industry-wide change
- Contributing to the quality of life through improving people’s working conditions and safety
- Acting for climate and the environment by proposing solutions to limit industry impact on environment and biodiversity.
Innovating to respond to strategic CSR challenges
A more sustainable solution for cleaning water membranes
Scaleva® MSA is an effective solution for descaling applications including cooling towers, evaporative coolers, hot water boilers, and processing equipment (including water treatment membranes). Readily biodegradable (*), Scaleva® MSA has a better HSE profile compared to inorganic alternatives such as sulfuric acid or hydrogen halides. Moreover, diluted solutions can be easily treated by wastewater treatment facilities as Scaleva® MSA contains no phosphorus or nitrogen, two water pollutants that leads to eutrophication (dense growth of aquatic plants leading to the death of animal life from lack of oxygen) in rivers, lakes and other bodies of water.
An alternative to chlorinated paraffins for lubricants
Commonly used in lubricant formulations, our sulfur-based additives TPS® allows replacement of chlorinated paraffins with a full range for neat oil & water-based formulations, through their non-chlorinated profile and their good extreme pressure efficiency. Thanks to their higher oxidation resistance and being compatible with new types of oils, TPS® extend life oil of lubricants.
Digitalization for real-time telemetry & live communication for refineries
Arkema offers Carelflex®, an on-site sulfiding service carried out by highly qualified technicians, provides the technical and safety knowledge, for an efficient, hassle-free catalyst sulfiding. Taking a step forward, Arkema innovates with a digital interface that eases live communication between the refinery control room and the Carelflex® team during sulfiding. Careflex® Connect enables better anticipation of potential issues, improves operation safety to achieve the highest catalyst activation and resumes production on time.
Optimizing the catalyst consumption for steamcrackers & improving their production efficiency
By delaying coke formation in the steamcrackers' furnace coils, DMDS Evolution® E2 helps to extend the furnace running cycles and optimizes the production capacities and yields with optimized energy consumption. DMDS Evolution® E2 injection also prevents coke from forming in hot areas of the PDH process so units can continue running efficiently and effectively.
Improving food access while being a key to improve use of agricultural resources
Arkema supports the food industry players by manufacturing methionine, a sulfurous amino acid essential to animal nutrition. Even if methionine is naturally found in limited quantities in various cereals and pulses, properly dosed methionine supplementation is necessary to reach a good metabolism. As global demand for meat is increasing, and making the proper utilization of agricultural land is essential, methionine help limit the amount of food supplement… (muscle rather than fat)
(TIN) electroplating: fewer side reactions and higher performance
E-Pure MSA® has technical advantages over competing technologies such as Phenol Sulfonic Acid (PSA), Fluoroboric acid (HBF4), Sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and Halides in Sn or Sn/Pb electroplating baths and frees processes from toxic lead and hazardous fluoborates. With E-Pure MSA®, bath can operate with lower metal content and allows for reduced waste, sludge and fewer residues and effluents. E-Pure MSA® also offers the possibility to recycle electrolytes.
Improving the working conditions and safety
Gas odorants ensuring safety
Natural gas and propane (including CNG and LPG) are naturally odorless, making them nearly impossible to detect in the event of a leak. Odorization is the process through which odorants are added and makes the leak detectible before the concentration of gas becomes hazardous. Our gas odorants make natural gas and LPG safer for people to use. We have also developed a full range of high-quality gas odorants for industrial gases, as well as a tool to save those valuable gases. Codetect® can be used in steel manufacturing for CO rich gases to prevent poisoning and asphyxiation. Through this range, Arkema contributes to improving working conditions to prevent workplace gas leaks and to ensuring the user a safer environment.
A safer process for leather processing
Thioglycolic acid (TGA) is used for the removal of hair from leather hides. Traditionally, companies use NaSH for dehairing, using TGA minimizes the volume of effluent and as a consequence the wastewater treatment costs. Besides, thanks to total sulphur oxidation, the risk of hydrogen sulfide generation is minimum, therefore improving the working conditions and safety.
Bio-methionine: a less harmful process for human health
Arkema has partenered with world leader in industrial biotechnology, CheilJedang (CJ Group), to develop a new methionine production process including the biofermentation of renewable raw materials (bio-methionine). It uses bio-based raw materials such as sugars or glycerin from plant oils, therefore limiting working exposure to toxic products. T process, compared to the traditional one, is simpler and significantly less energy intensive.
Acting for climate and the environment
Extreme Pressure sulfur additives for lighter vehicles
Carmakers and OEMs must innovate to reduce the carbon footprint of their vehicles through lighter vehicles. To fulfil this requirement, Arkema offers extreme pressure sulfur additives to bring higher thermal resistance to lubricants compared to other sulfurized olefins. Enhanced properties of TPS®, and especially TPS® 44, enable more compact and lighter design of automotive gearboxes, contributing to lighter vehicles.
Enabler for biofuels manufacturing from recycled feedstocks
Arkema offers innovative thiochemical solutions to biodiesel manufacturers to produce the highest quality of biodiesel in a safe and cost-effective manner. The esterification of free fatty acids and the neutralization of glycerol are two unavoidable problems in the biodiesel manufacturing process. This is why Arkema have developed MSA LC (Methane Sulfonic Acid Low Corrosion), an acid with very low corrosive properties towards stainless steels with exceptional properties and offers many advantages: MSA LC (Low Corrosion) can be used as an acidification or neutralization agent, or as a (trans)esterification catalyst that improves yield for biodiesel producers. This allows the use of renewable feedstocks like waste oils or animal fats, while significantly reducing the corrosivity toward stainless steel materials.
Renewable fuels: contributing to a sustainable energy
Decarbonization of the economy requires new sources of energies. Renewable diesel has the same composition as diesel distillated in refineries, except it originates from renewable feedstocks such as vegetable or recycled oils and wasted animal fats. It can replace 100% of the fossil diesel in the engine for the same performances. DMDS Evolution® E2 is the standard sulfiding agent to activate the catalyst in the hydrotreating process of HVOs, and a key contributor to improve the sustainability of the transportation energy mix.
Reducing sulfur emissions in the air
Leveraging its expertise in handling H2S, Arkema has developed Carelflex®, an on-site sulfiding service for refineries, carried out by highly qualified technicians, in order to provide a real-time, and accurate H2S measurement tool during HDP catalyst activation. By using only the appropriate amount of DMDS, our Carelflex® service makes it possible to lower the sulfur emissions in the air often considered as major source of acid rain, thus preserving aquatic life.
Arkema fully committed to the United Nations’ 2030 agenda
As a supporter of the United Nations Global Compact, Arkema has committed to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, a plan of action for people, planet and prosperity. The UN’s 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) support the choices we made in 2012 when we introduced our own corporate social responsibility policy.